Normal life hit in Kashmir due to restrictions

SRINAGAR: Normal life in Kashmir came to a standstill due to the restrictions imposed to foil the plan of separatist groups to hold a public meeting in Anantnag town on the 'chahrum' (fourth day) of Zahid Bhat, who died due to sever burn injuries sustained in a petrol bomb attack at Udhampur recently.

Police have put under house arrest several separatist leaders including chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference -- Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq -- as they were planning to visit Anantnag town for paying tributes to Bhat, who succumbed to injuries on October 18.

Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in large numbers in Srinagar and sensitive areas in south Kashmir to prevent people from assembling at Anantnag town, police sources said.

They said concertina wires were laid at all routes leading towards Anantnag town, blocking the passage of vehicles.

JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was taken into preventive custody last evening and lodged at police station Kothibagh.

Restrictions have been imposed in Anantnag town and Bujbehara police station area as a precautionary measure in view of clashes that took place yesterday and day before.

Meanwhile, traffic on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has been suspended due to the restrictions. The train services too was suspended as a precautionary measure.

In the city, Lal Chowk and surrounding areas were put off limits for people to prevent the Shia community from taking out a Muharram procession from Abi Guzar area of the commercial hub. Police did not allow any vehicles to enter the city centre as a preventive measure.

Authorities have imposed restrictions in areas falling under police station Maisuma, Shaheedgunj, Karan Nagar, Batamaloo, Shergarhi and Ram Munshi Bagh in the city.